BUBLE

28.11.16

Giving Comes Naturally With Burt's Bees: Discover The Stories Of Love That Make This Iconic Brand

It has to be said that Burt's Bees are one of my favourite brands ever; I've been using their iconic lip balms for years and am never without at least two in my bag for emergencies. Although it's increasingly on-trend for brands to offer a natural formula, and source their ingredients ethically and sustainably, few can say they've been doing it for the over thirty years. Burt's Bees started life as creative candles that used up the leftover beeswax from Burt's hives (yes, he was an actual person!) adding the iconic lipbalm we know and love into the line up in 1991; since then the business has expanded beyond lip balm into colour cosmetics and skincare, but one thing has always underpinned their values - a belief in the power of nature and the infinite resources nature provides. That ethos has informed the way that the brand sources ingredients (and respects the communities, individuals and environments from which they're sourced,) and the way that Burt’s Bees formulates all products to nourish the life of your skin. From beeswax to baobab, clary sage to shea butter, everything that goes into a Burt's Bees product benefits the body. There's so much more to this brand than you may already know, and I'm here to help tell that story...

BORN FROM NATURE

Burt’s Bees looks to the power of nature to inform how they make products. In their words "nature has billions of years of research for us to tap into!" Evolving and resilient, plants have had to continually adapt and develop their own chemistry to maintain vitality in the face of changing environmental conditions - including dryness, humidity, freezing temperatures and excessive heat. Do these challenges sound familiar? We’ve evolved with nature and human DNA is more similar to plants than different; we share around 60% of the same DNA as a banana plant! Many component in our bodies have similar components in nature (for example sebum and jojoba oil,) so Burt’s Bees skin friendly yet powerful ingredients to make their products truly effective.

COMMUNITY SOURCED

In 2012 Burt’s Bees launched an initiative that was focused on identifying key ingredients that were fundamental to the brand, selecting regions where those ingredients were produced and forming strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with communities in these regions. One of the first projects focuses on sourcing 50% of the beeswax required for the Burt’s Bees lip balms from Tanzania, using a combination of new and traditional methods. Their goal is to source 100% of Burt’s beeswax from communities and expand the program to include other natural oils, waxes and butters - so buying from the brand does more good than just giving you great skin. (You can find out more about their community sourcing here.)

THE GREATER GOOD

In 2007 Burt's Bees established The Greater Good Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization designed to encourage responsible environmental practices. The aim of this foundation is to empower grassroots initiatives, particularly in the areas of protecting honeybees and supporting sustainable agriculture. Since its inception, The Greater Good Foundation has issued $1.2 million in grants which will inevitably help to make a real difference in the years to come. It's amazing to see brands investing in the wider world and trying to make a positive impact, rather than just flogging their latest mascara. (Find out more about the foundation here.)

FOR THE LOVE OF BEES

Burt’s Bees is a proud sponsor of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the Adopt a Beehive scheme, which raises awareness of the importance of honey bees as well as funds to support vital research and education. Honey bees need much the same things as humans to thrive - a good, varied diet, a safe home and freedom from disease. They’re fundamental to our ecosystem, as well as providing us with tasty honey and handy beeswax. Without this essential support, we could find ourselves in a dire situation; if anyone's watched the last episode of Black Mirror, you know what I'm talking about! (Find out more about Burt's Bees work with honeybees here.)

It's not hard to see that Burt's Bees is all about the giving - whether that's back to communities, to nature, to charity partners or simply to their fans - so it's no surprise that this Christmas they're continuing their journey with a beautiful selection of gifts to help you give the gift of nature to your loved ones. Whether you want to treat your best friends to a cute little bauble or collectable set of lip balms, or want to introduce your mum to some skincare and body classics, Burt has got you covered.

Over the next week I'll be bringing you the lowdown on the gifts you'll just *need* to add to your Christmas list (as well as some of the treats you'll be dying to share with your friends and fam this holiday season,) alongside some thrifty tips and creative inspiration so you can take a leaf out of nature's book in the run up to the Big Day. There's a sneaky peek below, but if you want to get a head start on your festive gifting then I've got a very special offer for you: you can get an exclusive 20% off ALL Burt's Bees (plus free UK shipping) with the code BBFLASH16 all this week*. Waggle-Waggle! (That's bee speak for 'you're welcome' apparently.)

'Warmest Wishes From Nature Week' is brought to you in association with Burt's Bees. Discover more about Burt's Bees and their Christmas gifting collection (which starts at £5.99) on their website. Have a go on their Christmas Gift Finder and pick out the perfect treat for a loved one too!

*offer is valid from Mon 28th Nov until 11.59pm Sunday 4th December 2016

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Burt's Bees; all opinions my own.

SHOP BURT'S BEES HOLIDAY GIFTS

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burt's bees lip balms are awesome little stocking fillers! I've used their products for years and I cannot see myself letting go any time soon! Good to know the brand is so engaged in giving back too!Pam xo/ Pam Scalfi♥